Device for severing and applying stamps or the like to envelops or other surfaces



F. KAPAR. DEVICE FOR SEVERING AND APPLYING STAMPS OR THE LIKE TO ENVELOPS OR OTHER SURFACES.

, APPLICATION FILED AUG-24, 1920. 1,388,817, Patented Aug; 23, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

5] vwento'o 6 No an:

F. KA\S/PAR.

DEVICE FOR SEVERING AND APPLYING STAMPS OR THE LIKE TO ENVELOPS 0R QTHER SURFACES.

APPUCATION FILED AUG-2% I920.

1,388,817. PatentedAug. 23,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

amen-ton ZZ QIM/Z 35 CW y atrouuq F. KAPAR.

DEVICE FOR SEVERING AND APPLYING STAMPS OR THE LIKE TO ENVELOPS OR OTHER SURFACES.

-APPLICATION FILED AUG.24.1920.

' 1,388,317. Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

" UNITED ":srArEs FRANZ :KAsPAR, or OLMUTZ' nononnm, c znorro srovAK IA.

' nnvron r011; snvrmme Am) Am r.

r ve srnmrszon rnn mire T nivvnnorsl on i OTHER SURFACES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known. that I, FRANZ Kristian, a citizen of Czecho-Slovakia, resident of Olmutz v tion.-

According, to; the invention, thedevice or implement comprises .a depressible hand punch. anda moisteningattachment so arranged that bypressingdown the punch the'stampstrip, which-has previously been fed forward, is automatically moistened; the moisteningattachment moving out ofv the path of the punch. immediately the moisten.- ing operation has been completed, sorthat during the continued descent of the: punch the cutting mechanism can be automatically actuated to sever the stamp. and-permit its being applied to the envelop. During the succeeding upward movement of the punch, the various parts above mentionedare. restored to-normal position and mechanism is automatically l operated ,w-hereby the strip, is advanced'to bring theneX-t; stamp into po-,.

sition to be moistened when the punch is again depressed. V

The invention resides in the' particular constructiom-;con1bination and arrangement of parts-whereby the above" and other operations are automatically effected; anembodiment of the invention beingillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

. Figure 1 is a partesectional front elevation of the implement;

. Fig. 2 is a. vertical. cross-section of the strip-feeding mechanism;

FigsB-and 4 are fragmental detail views showing two different positions of the moistening device and the operating lever to which it is connected;

Fig. 5 -is a fragmental elevation at right angles to Fig 1;

Fig. 6 is a detailview showing. the mounting of'the check; pawlassociated with the feed roller; Y r v 7 F gs 7 and 8am, re p ct ve y, a plan Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Application filed. n 24,1929, Serial mi. 405,723.

view and a partrsectional side elevation of a tableor supportjwith which the implement maybe used; and. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the.c0n-.

StlllC'filOlL and arrangement ofthe stop plate Iagainst which the punch-returning spring ears.

V The improvedimplement consists mainly of two, parts, viz': the frame 1 and the punch 2,the latter being; mounted for vertical reciprocating movement within said frame.

To the frame there is affixed a horizontal pin 72 on which: is fulcrumed theupperend of a lever 13 having spaced, upper and lower fingers 15- and 1.4, and alsohaving an elongatedlug 16; the upper finger 15 being pro;- vided with an inwardly-extending terminal 52. The pin 72 has coiled around it acompressed or tensioned spring 64 (Fig; ,5) which presses lever 13. laterally against the fram e thus acting as a friction brake for saidilever and, hence, for the moistening device 3 carried thereby. This device is in the nature of a lever which is hinged at onecnd to a horiZontal1pin-80 attached to the lower end of lever 13, and is pressed vieldingly upward by atorsionspring 6O coiled around said pinn Inits normal position, represent ed in Fig. 1, the lever is engaged by a detent 4:7; which catches under-a roller 46 on the lever.

The frame 1 hasadjustably connected to it a vertical rack. 5 (Fig. 1) for actuating the hereinafter-described strip-feeding Inech'ansm; and it also carries a removable liquid container 4 from which wick 20 protrudes into position to contact with a. felt pad 22 carried jbythe lever 3, thereby providing a constant supply of moisture.

The punch 2 is provided with a, guidepiece 57, which is mounted to slide in a slot 6 formed in the frame, and is further provided with a tubular stem 8 fitting in a guide sleeve 11 and terminatingi in a suitable knob or handle. The sleeve 11 is fixed to the frame and supports upon itsupper edge the out-turned edge of a vertical arm or extension 10 formed upon the edge ofa horizontal stop plate 10 which is disposed within stem 8 (Figs. 1 and 9),;said arm fitting in a longitudinal slot 8 with which said stem isprovided. The stop plate 10 supports expansible-coil spring 9 (Fig.

1) serving to normally maintain the punch in elevated position; and a pad 61 may be employed to cushion the punch at the limit of its upward movement.

The moistener 3 is operated by the punch through the intermediary of a roller 12 attached to the guide 57 (Figs. 3 and 4:); said roller being designed to travel alongthe inner edges of the fingers 15 and 14 on the operating lever 13 which are so curved as to produce a swinging or rocking movement of said lever in one direction or the other, due to the pressure exerted thereagainst by the roller, according as the latter is engaged with the lower or the upper finger. The engagement of the roller with the lower finger is effected during the descent of the punch, as will be understood; but it does not take place until the last half of the stroke, the roller traveling along the straight edge of the portion of the lever between the two fingers during the first half of the stroke, at which time the swinging movement of the lever is prevented by the engagement of the lug 16 with the in-turned end of a keeper 17 attached to the stud or axle whereon the roller turns. The keeper disengages said lug just about the time that the roller starts its movement along the curved edge of the lower finger, and there'- after the lever is forced outwardly or away from the frame, moving from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that indicated in Fig. 4; the provision of the lug and keeper thus avoiding premature movement of the operating lever, which latter is stopped at the conclusion of itsoutward movement by the engagement of the terminal 52 of finger 15 with a lug 49 on the frame, and is retained in such position by the engagement of the nose 19 on the moistener lever 3 with the detent 457 on the frame (Figs. 4 and 5).

The operating lever remains in the position just mentioned during the first half of the succeeding up-stroke of the punch, and until roller 12 strikes against the curved edge of the upper finger 15, where upon the pressure exerted by the roller against said edge forces the lever to swing back toward the frame into its original position.

The strip 31 of stamps or the like is wound up on a suitable reel which is disposed within a drum or container 7 (Fig. 1) having a peripheral opening for the passage of the strip therethrough; said drum being provided with a spring tongue 59 which bears against the strip and thus tends to retard its feed movement. After leaving the drum, the strip is led around a roller 78 (Figs. 1 and 2), constituting one element of the feed mechanism, and then passes successively through a resilient channel member 37 and through an opening formed in the movable member or knife 51 of the cut mounted in the punch to move therewith;

and .its roller 78 has its heads'26fand 55 rigidly connected to a spindle 53 (Fig.2) which extends horizontally across the punch .and is removably supported at one end by a bearing 54, the other end of the spindle having a milled head 53. A pinion 25 in mesh with rack 5 is loosely mounted on the spindle between the roller head 26 and the adjacent wall of the punch and has pivoted to it a feed pawl 27 for engagement, under the influence of a spring 48 (Fig. l), with the teeth 27 formed internally on the aforesaid head 26. The other roller head 55 is provided with peripheral notches 63. (Fig. 6) engageable by a check pawl 29 controlled by a spring 15 and pivoted on a screw 75 which is attached to. the upper end of an angle lever 56 and moves in a guide slot in the punch wall; said lever being pivoted at its lower end on a screw 74 and being provided intermediate its ends with a clamping screw 65 which likewise extends through a guide slot in thepunch wall. The mounting just described enables the feeding roller to be adjusted to a position in which, when said roller islat rest and pawl 29 is engaged in one of the notches 63, the stamps or sections of paper will be severed exactly in the center of the separating lines of perforations by the cutting mechanism; it being understood that the screw 65 is tightened after. the "adjustment has been effected.

The body or circumferential wall of the roller is provided with pin points 30 (Fig. 2) disposed in rows for engagement in the perforations in the strip, the rows being spaced a distance apart equal to that between the rows of perforations in the strip, which latterv is preferably pressed against the roller by means of an arcuate jaw 33 (Fig. 1) pivoted to a carrier 34 which is itself hinged to the frame. The said jaw is provided with internal grooves 36 to receive the ends of the pins 30 and is retained in its raised or operative position by means of a spring catch 35 connected to drum 7 and engageable with the carrier 3 1, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1; but said carrier may readily be disengaged and swung downwardly into its full-line position when the strip is to be initially passed around the roller.

The feeding mechanism operates substantially as follows :During the descent of the punch, the roller 78 is held against rotation by the engagement of the check pawl 29 in the adjacent notch 63 in the roller head 55; and the pinion 25, which is constantly engaged with rack 5, turns loosely on spindle 53 in a counter-clockwise direcroller, with the result that the engagement of thepinpoints in the perforationsin the 'stripadvances. the latter; thecheck pawl being disengaged from its notch 63,.aswill be understood, but being thereafter. engaged in .tll6*SllCCB(-3CllI1gfI10l3Ch atthe completion of .the movement of'the punch.

The mechanism. by -which the stamps. or

sections of paper are severed comprises, in addition to theknife-51, a second knife which is rigidly fixed to the punch, as w ll be apparent from Fig. 1, and with respect to, which the knife 51- is movable.

knife A l terminates approximatelyflush with the under face of pad 21,.but themovable knife 51 projects2 some distance below said pad and is pressed yieldingly down ward by the action of a spring 50 and, at

the same time, is pressed. against the fixed knife by means of suitable rollers 4.0.acted on by spring 50. The springfl50exerts its downward pressure directly against. a laterally projecting lug 7 3 (Fig. 1) which is integrally or otherwise rigidly connected with knife 51 andwhich has adepending finger 73 that restsupon the. adjacent end. of the resilient channel member 37, the pressure of said spring 50 being suiiicient to flex the channel member downward and thereby bring its mouth directly opposite the opening formed in knife 51, as shown in Fig. 5. The member'37 is preferably constructed of thin flexible or resilient metal, and is fastened at its rear end by means of screws 37 or the like. to the punch. Whenthe punch descends, the cutting mechanism moves with. it, the two knives remaining relativelyv stationary until the lower edge of knife 51 strikes against the wallof the support or table hereinafter mentioned. Thereafter, during the continued movement of the punch, knife 51 will beforced upward against the action of spring 50, and as said knife yields, the .channel member. 37 also moves upward,carrying the strip with it into position to be ultimately severed by the coaction between the two knives. During the subsequent return movement of the punch, the knife 51 is restored to its former position under the action of spring 50, and at the same time the resilientchannel member 37 is again pressed down into position by lug 73 to aline its mouth with the opening in said knife.

The. implement as a whole may;be advantageously employed in conjunction. with a supportt2 7 andS) constructed in The 7 the form r of: a table,i and connectedlby means .ofdepending legs 43gto apair of su- Qperposed.supporting.arms 43. These arms are arranged below the table top and are pivoted for vertical swinging movement,

and they are normally held in raised posi- .tion by. Il'lGitIlSeOf? springs 424?; but the. latter. are somewhat weaker than the punch operating spring 9, sothat the imposition of, pressure upon the punch will initially effectxthedownward movement. of the implement as a..unit, and; the actual movement of, the punch itself will not take place until after thesupporting legs 43' have com.- pleted their downward .movementw When the pressure. upon the punch is removed, the springsklet will elevate the implement bodily, and thus move it; above and out of the way. ofthe previously stamped envelop, So that: the envelops amay'. therefore stacked up, in a pile on the table, from which. pile each envelop removed after having been stamped- .The table may further be provided with an adjustable, gag 4A for the envelops, and with anadjustable vertical'pin67, the latter being engageable by the envelops which are thereby held plied to the envelops at the usual point.

In order to count the number of times the implement has been used and, hence, the number of envelops stamped, there may be attached to the punch a suitable counter insuch a. position that. the stamps are ap-" 57* (Figs. 1 and 5) operated bymeans of a movableelement58 which is engageable by a fiXed lug.,62 (Fig. on the frame at each depression of the punch.

The complete operation, briefly stated, is as follows; During the first half of the down-stroke of the punch, the operating lever 13, is heldagainstmovement by the engagement of the keeper 17 with lugs 16,, and

just when the disengagement of those two parts takesplace, the roller 12 commences its travel along the curved upper edge of the lower finger llonsaid lever. This'lias the 7 effect of camming the lever outwardly of the frame 1 of the implement, during which movement. the .moistener 3 moves outwardly along with said lever, the pad QQthereon being pressed .against the under surface of the stamp by the action of the spring 60 and drawn along said surface. The outward movement of the lever continues until the padhas left'the stamp and the nose 19 of the moistener has been broughtwinto engagement with the lip or :detentAcTon the frame. the stopping of the leverbeing'eifected by the engagement of the terminal 52 with lug 49. During the continued movement of the punch, the moistened stamp is pressed against the topmost envelop on the pile by 7 the two operations taking place close together; and at the same time, the counter 57 is turned one step by the operating element When the pressure upon the punch is' removed, the spring 9, forces the punch upward, and during this stroke the movable knife 51 and the channel member 37 resume their former positions, while the pinion 25 positively drives the feed roller 7 8 and, hence, advances the strip 31 through the channel member and the opening in knife 51, the roller being arrested by the engagement of pawl 29 in the adjacent notch 63 at the end of the movement of the punch. The operating lever 13, during the first part of the up-str'oke of the punch, remains in the position into which it was moved during the preceding down-stroke of the punch butduring the last half of the Lip-stroke, the roller 12 on the punch engages the upper finger on the lever and thereupon forces the latter, and with it the moistener 3, to move inwardly toward the frame, this movement of the moistener disengaging'its nose 19 .from the detent 47 which thereupon engages the roller 46 when the lever completes its inward movement. The implement is thenready for another operation.

I claim as my invention l 1. An implement for aflixing stamps and the like, comprising a frame; a depressible operating element movable therein; mechanism actuated by said operating element dur ing its movement in one direction for feeding a strip of stamps; a rocking lever having a pair of opposed cams;"a member on said operating element engageable with one cam during the descent of the operating element for rocking said lever in one direction, and engageable with the other cam during the ascent of the operating element for rocking the lever in the opposite direction; and a moistening device connected to said lever for operation thereby and adapted to be dragged along the gummed face of the stamp to be afiixed during the movement of said lever in one direction.

2. An implement for aflixing stamps and the like, comprisinga frame; a depressible operating element movable therein and having a stamp-applying member at its lower end; mechanism actuated by said operating element for feeding a strip of stamps through the frame toward said applying member; a rocking lever having a pair of opposed earns; a member on said'operating element engageable with one cam during the descent of the operating element for rocking said lever in one direction, and engageable with the other cam during theascent of the operating element for rocking the lever in the opposite direction; and a moistening device connected to said lever for operation thereby and adapted to be dragged along the gummed face of the stamp to be aifixed durin'gthe movement of said lever in one direction. 58 being engaged and shifted by the lug 62.

I 3. In an implement for afiixing stamps and the 1ike,,thec'ombination, with a depressible operating element, and stamp-feeding mechanism actuated thereby; of a rocking lever having a pair of opposed cam fingers; a' member on said operating element engageable with one finger duringthe descent of the operating element to rock said lever in one, direction, and engageable with the other finger during the ascent of the opcrating element to rock said lever in the opposite direction; and a moistening device connected to said lever for operation thereby and adapted to be dragged along the gummed face of the stamp to be aflixedduring the movement of said lever in one direc- 4. Inian implement for aifixing stamps and the like, the combination, with a depressible operating element, and stamp-feeding mechanism actuated thereby; of a rocking lever having a pairyof opposed cam fingers; a member on said operating element engageable withone finger during the descent of the operating element to rock said lever in one directiomand engageable with the other finger during the ascent of the operating element to rock said lever in the opposite direction; and a moistening device hinged at one end to the rocking lever and provide at its other end with. a pad adapted to be moved along the gummed face of the stamp to be affixed during the movement of the lever in one direction, said device having a spring associated with it for swinging it toward the stamp. v

5. In an implement for aflixing stamps and the like, thecombi-nation, with a de pressible operating element and stampfeeding mechanism actuated thereby; of a rocking lever provided with a pair of opposed cams; a member carried by the operating element and engageable with one cam during the descent of said element to rock the lever in one direction, and engageable with the other cam during the ascent of the operating element to rock said lever in the opposite direction; a moistening device operatively connected to the lever and adapted to be moved across the gummed face of the stamp to be afiiired during the movement of the lever in one direction; and means on one of said cams for arresting the lever after it has traveled a predetermined distance in one direction.

6. In an implement for afiixing stamps and the like, the combination, with a frame, a depressible operating element mounted therein, and stamp-feeding mechanism actuated by said element; of a rocking lever provided with a pair of opposed cams, one of which has an oifset'terminal; a member carried by the operating element 'and engageable with "said cam during the descent of said element to rock said' lever outwardly of the frame, and engageable with the other cam during the ascent oftneoperating element to returnsaid lever to initial position a 'moistenmg device 'operatively connected to said lever andadapted to be moved across the gummed face of the stamp to be afiined during the movementof the lever in one directionyand a stop fixed to the frame for engagement by said cam terminal to limit the outward movement of thejlever."

7. In an implement for afiixing stamps and the like,-the combinatiomwith adepressible operating element and stampfeeding mechanism actuated thereby; of a rocking lever provided with a pair of opposed camsand with a lug; a member. car-' ried by the operating element and engageable with one cam at a predetermined point in the descent of said element to rock said lever in one direction, and engageaible with the other cam during'theas'cent ofjs id ele-s mentto rock the lever in the other direction;

a'keeper onthe operating element adapted to engage said'lng during the first portion of the descent of'said e'lementtoretain said lever in its initial position, and to release the lug when the operating element reaches affixed during themovement of said lever in one direction. 8. In an implement for affixing stamps and the like, the combination, with a depressible operating element and stamp feeding mechanismactuated thereby; of a' rocking lever, provided with'a ,pair of op posed cams; a member carried by the 'op-m v :fixe'd to the frame foren'gagem'ent by said crating element and engageable withone cam at a predetermmed point mthe descent of said element to Irock saidi lever in} one direction, and engageable with the other cam during the ascent of said element to rock the lever in the other direction; means for automatically locking said leverx against movement until the operating element reaches the said point in its, descent,said means thereafter releasing the lever to permit its movement; and a moistening device connected to saidlever for operation thereby and adapted to be dragged along the gummed face of the stampto befaflixed during the movement of said lever 'in one direction.

9. In an implement for affixing stamps and the like, the combination, with a de pressible operating element and stamp-' feeding mechanism actuated thereby; of a rocking lever provided with a pair of opposed cams; amember carried by the opcrating element and engageable with one cam'at a predetermined point in'the descent ofsaid element to rock said leverin one direction, and 1 engageable with theother cam: during the ascent of said, element to rock'the lever in theother direction; means forautomatically "locking said lever against movement, until the operating element reaches the said point in its descent, said means thereafter releasing the lever to 'permit its movement; a moistening device opera tively connected tothe lever and adaptedto be moved across the ,gum'med face of the stamp to be affixed during the movement of the lever in one direction; and means on one cam for arresting the lever after it has beenrocked a predetermined 'distancefin one direction.

10. In an-implement for aflixing stamps and the like, the combination, with a frame, a depresslble operating element mounted therein, .and stam a feecling mechanism 'actu-j ated by said element; of a rocking lever provided with a pair of opposed cams and with a lug, one cam having an offset terminal; a member carried by the operating element and engageable with said cam at a predeterminedpoint in the descent of said:

element to rock the lever outwardly of the frame, andengageable with the other cam during the ascent of said element-to return said lever'to initial position; a keeper on the operating element adapted to engage said] lug during the first portion of the descent of said element to retain the lever in its initial position, and to release the lug when the operating element reaches the said point in its descent to permit the outward movement of the lever; amoistening device operatively connected to said lever andadapted to be moved across the gummed face of the stamp to be'a'fiixe'd' during the movement of the lever in one direction; and a stop cam terminal to limit the outward move ment of the lever. I i

11. An implement 'for aflixin'g stamps and the like, comprising a frame; a depressible operating element movable therein; mecha- ,s

nismactuated by the operating element durln'g its movement 1n one direction for feeding -a strip o'f'stamps toward sald element;

cutting mechanism for severing a stamp from the strip, at'each depression of said 5120' element; said mechanism embodying a pair of knives arranged face to face and connected to said element to move therewlth,

one knife being movable relatively 'to the other and having an opening for the passage of the strip therethrough, and a spring bearing against the movable knife to cause it to 1 project below the other knife, said movable knife adapted to be forced upward at one point in the descent of the operating element to effect the cutting operation; and means said element, connected to the latter to move therewith; a flexible channel member interposed between the feeding and cutting mechanisms for directing the strip to position to be acted on by the cutting mechanism, said member being adapted to yield during the movements of the operating element; and means for automatically moistening the stamp to be affixed prior to its being'severed from the strip; said operating element having an aiiixing member connectedto its lower end. c

13. An implement for affixing stamps and the like, comprising a frame; a depressible operating element movable therein; mechanism, actuated by the operating element during its movement in one direction for feeding a strip of, stamps toward said element; cutting mechanism for severing a stamp from thestrip at each depression of said element; said mechanism embodying a pair of knives arranged face to face and connected to said element to move therewith, one knife being movable relatively to the other and having an opening for the passage of the strip therethrough, and a spring bearc ing against the movable lmife to causeit to project'below the other knife, said movable knife adapted to be; forced upward at one point in the descent of the operating element to efl'ectthe cutting operation; a flexible channel member interposed between the feeding and cutting mechanisms and having itsmouth constantly disposed in alinement with the opening in the movable knife to guide the strip therethrough, said member being adapted to yield during the movements of the operating element;. and means for automatically moistening the stamp to be afiixed prior to its being severed from the strip; said operating element having an affixing member connected to its lower end.

14:. An implement for aflixing stamps and the like, comprising a frame; a depressible operating element movable therein; a rack fixed to the frame; strip-feeding mechanism carried by the operating element to move therewith and embodying a feed roller around which the strip passes, a normallyloose pinion at one end of the roller constantly meshing with said neck, and means for automatically coupling said pinion'to said roller to rotate the same during the movement of the operating element in one direction only; means actuated by said operating element for severing a stamp from the strip at each movement of said element in one direction; and means for automatically moistening the gummed face of the stamp before being severed.

' 15. An implement for affixing stamps and the like, comprising a frame, a depressible operating element movable therein; a rack fixed to the frame; strip-feeding mechanism carried by the operating element to move therewith and embodying a feed roller around which the strip passes, a normallyloose pinion at one end of the roller constantly meshing with said rack, means act-V ing automatically to couple said pinion to said roller to rotate the same during each ascent of said operating element, and to uncouple it from said roller during each descent, and means for positively holding said roller against rotation while uncoupled; means actuated by said operating element for severing a stamp from the strip at each movement of said element in one direction; and means for automatically moistening the guigmed face'of the stamp before being severe 16. An implement for affixing stamps and the like, comprising a frame; adepressible operating element movable therein, mechanism, including a roller for feeding a perforated strip of stamps through the frame at each movement of the operating element in one direction, said roller having rows of pin points to engage in the perforations jaw adapted to fit against the roller and having grooves for the reception of said points; means actuated by said operating element for severing a stamp from the strip at each movement of said element in one direction; and means for automatically moistening the gummed face of the stamp before being severed. 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANZ KASPAR.

Witness: 7

HUGO J Ass.

in the strip; a movable arcuate jaw for holdmg the strip against said roller, said 

